ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI: The rant of “born here” and “not from here” took its place in the highest forum of the legislature on October 9, 2018, The House of Assembly (HoA), with preverbal punches hurled across the aisle via prominent house members.

The leader of the opposition Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1) said he was insulted by Minister for Education and Culture Honourable Myron V. Walwyn (AL) after being interrupted during his speech on human rights.

Interruption of debate

Speaking on the Human Rights Commission Act, Hon Fahie made a point that he witnessed a person who came to the territory to assist in recovery works, talking “bad” about residents of the Virgin Islands. Fahie expressed displeasure, saying that he would not go into another man’s country and talk down its people, however, it was at that point he was interrupted by the Education and Culture Minister Hon Walwyn.

“Madame Speaker this is a member of the house, I'm really trying to understand whether the member understands the bill,” Hon Walwyn said, but was made to take his seat by the Speaker of the House Honourable Ingrid Moses-Scatliffe.

Hon Fahie took offence to the interruption claiming to have been insulted by the Education Minister, “...but I sat here he (Walwyn) talk all kinds of things about school children... I accept that because he had his stand. Now I here talking about human rights… They (VI Visitors) have some rights in this country… They have a privilege to work here… and then Minister of Education get up and insult me telling me he don't know if I understand the bill,” Hon Fahie expressed in frustration.

“You see the kind of things I got to work with when I come to this house… I don't insult nobody like that” he said.

Social ills and the territory

Leading up to the crossfire, Hon Fahie took a swipe at the 1710 persons imported into the territory to assist in recovery works, suggesting that there should be some mechanism in place to ensure they leave at some point, noting that prior to their arrival, the territory has been grappling with a number of social ills.

“..1710 persons have been allowed in the territory to help... they have some rights yes, there are rights and they have to understand it’s a privilege because I am hearing on the flip side of the coin where persons are asking well, what is the program…. what is our right here in this territory?,” he said.

Hon Fahie continued, “It might sound harsh but they came into a specific purpose... and we already have enough social problems and they will have rights but it’s also just a privilege and you don't have to ill-treat anyone, that is wrong… So we do need to make sure that these acts don’t give persons who have come with a special purpose, more rights than who are here... It has to have a balance,” he said.

Off balance?

Hon Fahie debated that when reading the Act it sometimes give him the impression that it is a little off balance. “I'm tired of sitting and passing legislation that addresses every other human being in the Virgin Island, except the Virgin Islander and I don't apologise for it because I know the others will twist it and turn it and make it sound like Fahie against Caribbean people, he’s against this... I am talking about Virgin Islanders who are Caribbean people who have belonger status and us who are here, the indigenous we are all Virgin Islanders,” he said.

Hon Fahie also made this statement, “Whenever laws are passed lately it seems to me that everybody is concerned about everyone else except the people of the Virgin Island… and this is no disrespect to anyone but this is the first country that I’m seeing where you now come to the point where you have to apologize for being from here. “

Then there was the swipe at persons in the legal field, “I often tell persons Madam Speaker that I studied the sciences of engineering and mathematics... I haven’t studied the law, but that doesn’t make me less intelligent than anybody that studied law because somehow in our community, people has some type of notion that once you’re not in legal field… you’re not as intelligent as anybody else... and that makes them no less than intelligent,” Hon Fahie said in closing.

Fahie seems to be xenophobic. It's one thing to be patriotic and another to be fanning the flames of disunity and divisiveness. Then you will hear VIP come election trying to pander to that demographic... smh it's sad!

Fahie you will lose this fight.. Don't take Myron bait.. The reality is the at large belongers vote are crucially important. Why do you think Myron been getting the most votes.. We like Myron.. Its natural to like people that fight for you.

I like Myron.. I am vex that he and the NDP team didnt come to Mr. S Pickering defense When he was fired from his Security chief Job in my view unjustly. They wont agressive in their defence knowing how he suppoorted them so strongly.. These big companies just doing what they want.. Sad. No repeesentation..

@ vex. Who do they come in defense of.? Did the defend the hill man who used to be in Immigration? Not. Because he was not entertaining their quest to be their stool. Critical thinkers always get a raw gutless deal.

That is what Britain was looking at when we were given a say in formulating our constitution.. They did not want outsiders in our law making body .They were looking out for the rights of ancestral generation. Hence the British Nationality Act. Now we are being insulted in the House. Seemingly some persons have a gripe against ancestral Virginislanders. No one is disputing your birth, but have some respect. The premier is solely to be blamed. Do not allow the disrespect to continue. Too much outburst in the House.

Myron behaves like a wiseacre, a know it all, his way or the highway.....etc. . His attitude and behaviour are probably a major contributing cause to the current dysfunction in the NDP. He was the MEC but he was in the Premier’s and everyone’s else bees wax, ie, MCW, MNRL, and MHSS. Stay in your lane MEC; you want to be Premier so badly that you are behaving like an annoying and pesky mosquito. Slow your roll and if it will be, it will be. Your opinions, views.....etc are not the only ones that matter.. Much can be learnt by actively listening to others; resist the urge to behaving like the smartest person in the room, even if you think you are. Yes, power, status and influence are addicting but we kick the addiction, for it is unhealthy. Good things comes to those who wait;patience is a virtue.

Agree with Andrew. It takes more than lawyers to make the BVI tick; it also takes doctors, nurses, teachers, engineers, economists, architects, morticians, fishermen , carpenters, masons, mechanics, plumbers, information technicians, accountants........etc Moreover, as vistors and workers won’t want to be dissed in their homeland by visitors the so too Virgin Islanders don’t appreciated being dissed in their homeland. When and if things get rough, others can “trolong” as Antiguans say, Virgin Islanders have to stay here and endure the hardship. Yes, expats are needed in the territory but why dissed the people and country to which you immigrate. If the VI is so backwards, unwelcoming, not as good as your home countries.......etc why stay? Virgin Islanders you too must show respect to visitors and workers, even though you may be gorded.

“Moreover, as vistors and workers won’t want to be dissed in their homeland by visitors so too Virgin Islanders don’t appreciated being dissed in their homeland. When and if things get rough, others can “trolong” as Antiguans say, Virgin Islanders have to stay here and endure the hardship. Yes, expats are needed in the territory but why dissed the people and country to which you immigrate. If the VI is so backwards, unwelcoming, not as good as your home countries.......etc why stay? Virgin Islanders you too must show respect to visitors and workers, even though you may be gorded.” At least, there is some balance and truth to the rant. On the first read, xenophobia came in focus but the rant ended demonstrating some balance.

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